Wow! We made it through the first week! Can't believe it! Well, here's hoping the second will be as good as the first (maybe better)...
After a fun day at church yesterday, we were pumped for school on Monday. After so much excitement of a real Tailgate Party at Sunday School and church, our adrenaline was pumping. Starting off the day by reading more in Genesis is a sure-fire way to guarantee success! Something sure made the math lesson go quickly and easily.
Copy lesson today was Philippians 4:13. That verse is my "rainbow" verse. The Boy's cursive is improving all the time. Sooooooooooo much better than his printing. He was excited to know that when he has successfully mastered all the letters, with no errors, we will begin Calligraphy, which should be in a couple of weeks. He says I should get "Pop" (the grandfather of some friends) to teach him because "Pop" can do it so well. Of course, I don't think there is anything that "Pop" can't do well. The man is incredible. Everyone should have a grandfather like him. Guess he learned Philippians 4:13 early in life!
Another week, another Preposition List. I really do hate Prepositions. Really. I just have to remember "I can do all things...."! Found a pretty good website with some Preposition lessons (free). Thankfully, it was time for Mom to leave for work and leave The Boy in the hands of Granny. With the new list and a selection from Wind in the Willows, Granny and The Boy plunged into the dirty world of Language Arts, and actually found all the prepositions. I had to look at the list, but please don't tell anyone.
Due to a little rain, the scheduled Nature Scavenger Hunt had to be postponed, but that's OK, they read a little in the Zoology book. I think we might try a litte Scavenger Hunt around the inside of this house. With 2 cats, a dog and 3 very messy people, no telling what treasures we might find!
Because of the discussion at the Local-Senior-Citizens'-Coffee-Clatch-Watering-Hole last week, about Columbus being the first white child born in America, we are taking a couple of days and re-reading Columbus. Now, The Boy can teach US History to the Historically-Challenged Seniors at Hardee's. I can't wait to get past Columbus and move on to Ponce de Leon. To me he is the lost hero of US history. We don't hear about him like we do the settlers and colonists in New England. There is so much Spanish history and landmarks near us, it is a shame not to really get to know the people and places.
After reviewing Columbus, a breeze through Mystery of History's lesson on Noah. This fascinates The Boy. Our mapping lesson later in the day tied into Noah and Mt Arrarat and Eden and it was exciting to see his excitement about a lesson. This is new territory for us and This Mama is very happy to venture into this territory! Reading about the first farmers and first towns in Usborne's internet-linked Ancient World helped him get an idea of what life was like in the Fertile Crescent area. I love this little book. If you want one, I am an Usborne consultant and can get one for you! Check my website.
To wind down the Granny portion of the day, math practice problems were easily worked and then they cooked lunch for me and for Sister! I like this set-up!
After work and a tasty lunch, The Boy and I trekked back to our house and reviewed what he had done while with Granny. All the work looked great; he reported what he had read about in Columbus and we enjoyed reading a Dr Seuss book about Mulberry Street. In case you are wondering why the Mother Goose and Dr Seuss, it is for 2 reasons. One is purely selfish--I love having my son snuggle up next to me while we read and laugh together. At 12, I know his Mama's Boy days may not last too much longer. The other is because I recognize we are at a threshold. He has had a hard time conquering reading, to the point he didn't want to read or be read to. Right now, he is enjoying being read to and if not too challenging, he enjoys reading to me. I can sense he wants to like it, but is afraid of failing. So, since I never liked Dr Seuss and therefore seldom read his stories to The Boy when he was younger, we are enjoying them together, buddy reading, for now. More about this later. It has been fun, for whatever reason, to read and laugh together.
Equation for perfect afternoon: Get out Wind in the Willows, add a soft couch on which to snuggle with your favorite son, an open window, and a soft rain. Thank you, God, for a lovely, rainy afternoon!
After some downtime with our portion of school work finished, Mom had to put on the Church Bookkeeper hat. The Boy went along until Dad came by after work and picked him up. While Mom slaved away at counting beans for Methodists and God, The Boys were home going over their daily geography practice and talking about habitats and biomes and such. I think they must have taken the Scavenger Hunt in the house seriously, because the kitchen and living room were cleaned up when I got home!
After a later-than-I-planned supper, we watched Old Yeller. Oh, I loved that ol' yeller dog (and Kurt Russell was adorable as a child). After wiping away the tears, we got out the books again and read some more Daniel X and Happy Hollisters. The Boy begged me not to stop reading, but with having to get up at 6:30 in the morning for Prayer Breakfast, I had to put him off. We did read a little Pooh, but then it was lights out!
Today was my Favorite Sister's birthday. My only sister, but of all the sisters in the world, God blessed me with this one and for that I will be eternally grateful. I didn't get to stop long enough to call her and wish her a happy birthday until the evening, but she had a good day and she knows I love her, so that is all that matters. Happy Birthday, Sister. I hope you have many many many more!
Lord, thank you for this day. Thanks for the light rain, the two jobs, a loving family. See you tomorrow!
Our lives homeschooling our little boy who has become a young man.
